Author: David Shama

Add it all up and Bryant McKinnie will be on the short list of players who will be most significant in determining the success of the Minnesota Vikings in 2008.

Why? Well, start with his position, offensive left tackle.  With a right-handed quarterback like the Vikings’ Tarvaris Jackson, the left tackle is the most important position on the offensive line.   McKinnie, and other NFL left tackles, are gatekeepers for their teams, protecting the backside of quarterbacks.

A left tackle finds himself matched against the defense’s most prolific pass rusher.  A right end like the Vikings’ Jared Allen, who led the NFL in sacks last season, or historically high motor guys like Bruce Smith or Howie Long are examples.

Former Viking center Mike Morris put it this way about guys like that: “I may not be there but you can feel my presence.  Now try and throw the ball.  That’s what kind of guy the left tackle has to block.”

The way Morris sees it, there are a couple of problems with the McKinnie situation. The first is that McKinnie faces legal charges from a night club incident in Miami.  In addition, the NFL is expected to make an announcement soon whether McKinnie will be disciplined by having to miss one or more regular season games.

Such a development will present a problem, but McKinnie’s so-so play during his six-year career is an ongoing issue, too, according to Morris.  He thinks journeyman Artis Hicks, now in his seventh NFL season, would be the McKinnie fill-in.

“I don’t think he’s the player they thought he was,” Morris said of McKinnie. “I don’t think he’s the player I thought he was.  He hasn’t proven himself and now we’ve got this mess. I wonder if it’s going to hurt us or help us sometimes with him.

“Artie Hicks over there might just be fine.  It might also be the solution.  McKinnie when he wants to play, he plays well.  When he doesn’t, it seems like he takes games off.  I don’t think he’s worth his salt.  Not $49 million.  I think that Hutchinson (left guard Steve) makes him look an awful lot better than he really is.  When he’s paired with a very ordinary guard, which we’ve had here before in the past, he looks extremely outmatched a lot of times if he doesn’t have inside help.

“We’ll need him (McKinnie) back.  It’s going to be a huge, huge issue if Artie can’t make that transition over to left tackle. That’s a big deal to play left tackle. So that’s why they get paid the big money.”

In 2006 the Vikings signed McKinnie to a reported $48.5 million contract extension.  Morris, who has a morning talk show on KFAN, is passionate about his former team, and said he’s “ashamed” the franchise is paying McKinnie the big bucks.  Morris talked about playing with former left tackle and hall of famer Gary Zimmerman, and said there’s “no comparison” between Zimmerman and McKinnie.

Cross your Purple horns and hope that McKinnie, who has started a team-best 89 consecutive games including the playoffs, is available to the Vikings because of his experience and the importance of the left tackle position.  ”The one guy that could have done it in his sleep, doesn’t choose to do it, and that’s McKinnie,” Morris said.  “We hope he’s (McKinnie) back. …But a hell of a burden on Artie Hicks right now. That’s for sure. He hasn’t done him any favors. …”

Morris said his KFAN show is third in the morning ratings after KQRS and 93X.

When Hicks played for the Eagles, he appeared in a 2004 Campbell’s Chunky Soup commercial with teammate Donovan McNabb.

Vikings rookie Steve Hauschka, who handled the kickoffs, extra points and field goals in the opening pre-season game, never played high school football.  He’s a free agent from North Carolina State.

In its fantasy football preview, Sports Illustrated ranks former Gopher Marion Barber, now with Dallas, No. 5 among running backs.  His former Gopher running mate Laurence Maroney, now with New England, is No. 28.

Larry Fitzgerald’s column in the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder reports that former Vikings coach Denny Green is teaching a class in sports management at San Diego State University in San Diego.  https://larry-fitzgerald.com/articles/Are_the_Vikings_ready.htm

Harmon Killebrew hosts the Kwik Trip Harmon Killebrew Classic Wednesday and Thursday with events benefiting the Twins Community Fund and the Miracle League of Minnesota.  Among the events is tomorrow’s tailgate party on the Metrodome Plaza starting at 11 a.m.  Prior to the New York-Twins game, the public can meet Killebrew and have all-you-can-eat hot dogs, chips, pop and water for $10.  Beer will be available for $5.

Twins’ designated hitter Jason Kubel has 16 home runs, three more than his previous career high set last year.  With 58 RBI, he will soon surpass his career best of 65 set last year.

Former Twins left-hander Kyle Lohse, who won 14 games combined during the previous three seasons, is 13-4 with a .380 ERA for St. Louis.  His 13 wins lead the staff.

Tom Mahoney, the former Fairmont High School football coach who died earlier this month, was a friendly, warm-hearted Irishman who was one of the winningest coaches in state prep history and a leader among his peers.  “We called him the idea guy,” said Don Swanson, the former Patrick Henry coach.  Both Swanson and Mahoney were leaders in the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association.  “He could come up with something five days a week,” said Swanson who knew Mahoney for 50 years.  Swanson gave Mahoney credit for developing the Butch Nash award that honors high school assistant coaches and helping to revive the Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game.

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster said he has no plans to switch former Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback John Nance to another position.  He said Nance, a 6-4, 185-pound freshman, needs to add strength.

Brewster has a bed in his office so he can sleep over night during the demanding work days and nights of August as he prepares the Gophers for their opening game with Northern Illinois at home on August 30.  He plans to sleep in his office until about a week before the first game.

Brewster is a high energy person, even for a coach.  He jogs and also eats what he describes as a “boring” diet that emphasizes fruits and vegetables, minimizing red meats and desserts.

Jason LaFrenz, director of marketing and ticket sales for the Gophers, told Sports Headliners on Sunday that he expects season ticket sales (public, staff and students) to total about 39,000.  He’s projecting another 4,000 will be sold prior to the Gophers moving into TCF Bank stadium next season.  A 43,000 total means a sellout for the season in the 50,000 seat stadium because about 3,000 seats are committed to premium seating and another 3,000 are kept for fans of visiting teams.

LaFrenz said about 2,000 people attended last Sunday’s Gopher Nation Fan Fest that included autographs from Brewster and players.  He also said 750 seats with unobstructed views are still available for Gopher basketball season tickets.